Hot top with centering lugs



HOT TOP WITH CENTERING LUGS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 13, 1965 nrrok/vzys.

Oct. 31, 1957 Filed April 13,

. R. E. DALEY HOT TOP WITH CENTERING LUGS Fig. 6

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United States Patent 3,350,052 HOT TOP WITH CENTERING LUGS Robert E. Daley, Pittsburgh, Pa., assiguor to Ingot Aid Company, Inc., New Castle, Pa. Filed Apr. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 447,713 8 Claims. (Cl. 249-198) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An ingot mold hot top with an outwardly projecting refractory bottom ring has outwardly projecting centering lugs above the ring for centering the hot top in the mold. The hot top also is provided with supporting lugs projecting outwardly beyond the centering lugs for resting on top of the mold.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a hot top for partial insertion in the top of an ingot mold, which is equipped with its own means for supporting itself, which can be supported at different elevations in the mold, which is provided with means to prevent damage to its refractory bottom ring inside the mold, and which has improved joints in its lining.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompany drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a plan view with parts broken away;

FIG. 2 is a combined side view and vertical section, taken on the line IIII of FIG. 1, of the hot top about to be lowered into a mold;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the hot top in the mold;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of one corner of the hot top, with the top of the metal casing broken away;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side view, partly broken away, of a modified hot top about to be lowered into a mold;

FIG. 6 is a similar view showing the hot top in operat ing position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side view of the hot top taken at 90 to FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the hot tops metal casing 1 has an inner surface that diverges downwardly to the bottom of the casing. There is no inturned ledge at the bottom, although an inwardly projecting lip 2 may be provided at the top. This metal casing is considerably smaller than conventional hot tops relative to the molds with which it is intended to be used, so that when the lower portion of the casing is lowered into a. mold and centered therein there will be a space between it and the mold 3 wide enough to permit a person to see down between them without any diificulty. Preferably, this space should be at least one inch wide,

To protect the lower end of the casing and seal the space between it and the mold, a refractory bottom ring 5 is provided that engages the bottom of the casing. This ring projects laterally outward from the casing far enough to tightly engage the inner surface of the mold at the desired level therein. For best results, the outside of the ring should be displacea-ble to some extent, such as being provided with a tapered rib 6, that will be compressed or partly or completely out off or shaved off by the mold as the hot top is lowered into the mold by chains connected to lifting lugs 7 at the top of the casing, whereby the bottom ring will tightly engage the inside of the mold. The portion of the refractory bottom ring that projects outwardly from the metal casing also extends upwardly an inch or more around the lower end of the casing, thereby defining a recess in which the metal casing is seated and by which the ring is centered on the casing. Such a ring also is shown in my Patent 3,239,187.

It is a feature of this invention that the refractory bottom ring, after it has been lowered into the mold, is protected from damage, which may occur because of violent impacts against the side of the mold or sudden lateral jolts while the mold is being transported from one location to another. In the past, such impacts or jolts often have caused the bottom ring to be jammed so tightly against one side of the mold that the ring has been cracked or broken. Such damage is prevented by this invention by providing casing 1, around its bottom, with centering lugs 10 that project outwardly from the sides of the casing. Preferably, the outer faces of the lugs are substantially flush with the outer surface of the bottom ring or slightly beyond it, but rib 6 always projects slightly beyond the lugs. At the location of each centering lug, the bottom ring may be provided with an upwardly and outwardly opening recess 11 for receiving the lower portion of the lug. The recess is spaced outwardly from the inner surface of the upwardly extending portion of the ring by a narrow portion that forms an upright wall 12. To accommodate this wall, the centering lug is provided with an upwardly extending notch 13 that receives the wall.

The bottom ring can be supported by stiff wires 15 having lower ends that are inserted up into vertical holes in the bottom of the bottom ring. The wires are bent outward beneath the ring and then upward past its periphery. The upper ends of the wires are hooked over headed studs 16 projecting from the sides of the centering lugs above the bottom ring.

To support the hot top and limit the distance that the bottom ring can be lowered into the mold, casing 1 also is provided with outwardly projecting supporting lugs that project outwardly beyond the centering lugs to rest on top of the mold. These supporting lugs may be formed by providing the centering lugs with outwardly projecting portions 18 above the level of the casing bottom for overlying and resting on top of the mold. Not all of the centering lugs need to be provided with these supporting lugs, but they must be on at least two opposite sides of the casing.

The bottom ring 5 also projects inwardly from metal casing 1 in order to support an insulating liner for the casing formed from molded panels 20. The panels can be made of the same material throughout, or from two or more layers. Preferably, each panel is made relatively thin by molding it from an outer layer of dense sand base refractory, an intermediately layer of insulating material that is less dense than the outer layer, and an inner layer of exothermic material. All three layers are intimately joined together. The panels can be slipped into the metal casing from the bottom before the bottom ring is attached. A feature of this invention is that the vertical joints between the edges of the panels are not straight through joints as has been the case in the past, but are dog leg shape as viewed from above as shown in FIG. 4. The dog leg joints make it more diflicult for metal to seep through the joints between the panels than through straight joints. At each joint the surface of each panel in the joint has inner and outer fiat areas that meet at an obtuse angle along a line extending lengthwise (vertically) of the panel. Each inner fiat area 21 of each panel makes an angle with the inner face of that panel of at least while each outer flat area 22 of each panel makes an angle with its outer face of no more than 90. Consequently, each panel can be molded in a single mold instead of in a two part mold having a parting line, because there are no re-entrant angles to prevent the panel from being removed from the mold cavity. This reduces the cost of making the panels.

After the hot top has been put in place in an ingot mold, molten metal is poured through the hot top to fill the mold and the hot top. In case there is any leakage of molten metal up between the refractory bottom ring and the surrounding mold, it can readily be seen in the wide space between the hot top and mold and the pouring can be shut ofi before any damage is done. Preferably, the major area of the upper surface of the bottom ring slopes downwardly and outwardly as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3 to form with the mold a V-shape Well. Any molten metal escaping up between the ring and mold will have to fill this well before it can reach the metal casing of the hot top. An alert operator will see the metal rising in the well before it is too late and will be able to shut off the pour. This will prevent a metal shroud from solidifying against the outside of the hot top casing and interfering with its separation from the mold and ingot.

A hot top constructed as just described does not require any separate supporting blocks for limiting the distance that the hot top can be lowered into the mold. The lugs 18 that overlie the top of the mold serve this purpose. They do not have to be handled sepaartely nor inserted in place when the hot top is lowered in the mold, because they are carried permanently by the hot top casing itself. In case the mold is jolted sharply, the most that the hot top can be shifted laterally in it is the width of the normal clearance between the outer face of a centering lug and the adjacent side of the mold. Engagement of the lug with the mold will prevent further movement. The small amount of movement permitted by the clearance is not great enough to seriously damage the bottom ring.

In some cases it is desirable to be able to adjust the distance that the hot top can project down into a mold. For this purpose, the hot top supporting means can be made vertically adjustable. One way of doing this, as shown in FIGS. to 8, is to make each of the supporting lugs in the form of a vertical metal bar 24 adjustably connected to the outer surface of one of the centering lugs 25 projecting from the sides of the metal casing 26. The inner side of the bar is provided with a vertical slot 27 that receives a headed guide stud 28 projecting from the outer surface of the adjoining centering lug. Each bar also is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced openings, preferably in the form of notches 29 along one side of the bar. A locking stud 30 projecting from the adjoining centering lug extends into a selected one of these notches. Consequently, when the lower ends of the bars or supporting lugs are resting on top of an ingot mold the weight of the hot top casing is carried by the locking studs to the lower walls of the notches in which the studs are disposed. The casing therefore is supported by the bars, which in turn are supported by the mold. To change the distance that the hot top projects into the mold, the supporting bars can be swung sideways far enough to release their notches from the locking studs and then the bars can be slid lengthwise across guide studs 28 until notches at another level are opposite the looking studs. The bars then are swung back to vertical position to cause the notches to receive the locking studs in order to support the casing. Although these supporting bars are adjustable vertically relative to the hot top casing, they are permanently connected to it and therefore always ready to serve their function.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. A hot top comprising a metal casing open at top and bottom, a refractory bottom ring beneath the casing projecting laterally outward therefrom, centering lugs near the lower end of the casing but above said ring and projecting outwardly from the sides of the casing from spaced positions on the outer periphery of the lower end of the casing for insertion in an ingot mold with the casing and the ring, and means projecting laterally outward from the casing farther than said centering lugs for supporting it on an ingot mold with said ring and lugs down in the mold, said lugs having contacting surfaces below said supporting means for engagement with the inside of a mold below its upper edge to substantially avoid lateral shifting of the casing, and the bottom ring projecting laterally slightly beyond said contacting surfaces of the lugs and having a peripheral mold-engaging surface.

2. A hot top according to claim 1, including studs projecting from the sides of at least some of said lugs, and metal clips suspended from said studs and extending under said bottom ring to attach it to the bottom of said casing.

3. A hot top comprising a metal casing open at top and bottom, a refractory bottom ring beneath the casing projecting laterally outward therefrom and up around its lower end, the upwardly projecting portion of the ring being provided around he casing with upwardly and outwardly opening recesses spaced outwardly from the inner surface of said portion by upright walls, centering lugs above the ring projecting outwardly from the sides of the casing around its bottom for insertion in an ingot mold with the casing and ring, said lugs extending down into said ring recesses and being provided with upwardly extending notches receiving said upright walls, the bottom ring having a displaceable peripheral portion projecting laterally slightly beyond the lugs for engaging the inside of a mold when the casing and ring are lowered into it, and supporting lugs projecting outwardly from the centering lugs above their lower ends for resting on top of a mold to support the casing therein.

4. A hot to according to claim 3, in which the bottom ring has an upper surface sloping downwardly and outwardly around said casing.

5. A hot top comprising a metal casing open at top and bottom, a refractory bottom ring beneath the casing projecting laterally outward therefrom and up around its lower end, the upwardly projecting portion of the ring having an upper surface sloping downwardly and outwardly around said casing and being provided around the casing with upwardly and outwardly opening recesses spaced outwardly from the inner surface of said portion by upright walls, centering lugs above the ring projecting outwardly from the sides of the casing around its bottom for insertion in an ingot mold with the casing and ring, said lugs extending down into said ring recesses and being provided with upwardly extending notches receiving said upright walls, studs projecting from the sides of at least some of the lugs, metal clips suspended from said studs and extending under said bottom ring to attach it to the bottom of the casing, the bottom ring having a displaceable peripheral portion projecting laterally slightly beyond the lugs for engaging the inside of a mold when the casing and ring are lowered into it, and supporting lugs projecting outwardly from the centering lugs above their lower ends for resting on top of a mold to support the casing therein.

6. A hot top comprising a metal casing, centering lugs projecting outwardly from the sides of the casing around its bottom and having lower portions for insertion in an ingot mold with the casing to space the casing from the mold, separate supporting lugs at opposite sides of the casing adapted to rest on the mold, and means connecting said supporting lugs to adjoining centering lugs above said lower portions for vertical adjustment thereon to support the centering lugs and the bottom of the casing down in the mold at selected levels therein, and in which each of said supporting lugs is a vertical bar provided with a row of vertically spaced openings, and a stud projects into one of the openings in each of said rows from the adjoining centering lug, said supporting lugs being removable projecting outwardly from the sides of the casing around its bottom for insertion in an ingot mold with the casing, separate supporting lugs at opposite sides of the casing adapted to rest on the mold, each of the supporting lugs being a vertical bar provided with a vertical slot facing an adjoining centering lug, a guide stud projecting into each of said slots from the adjoining centering lug, each of the supporting lugs also being provided along one side with a row of vertically spaced notches, and a locking stud projecting into one of the notches in each row from the adjoining centering lug for supporting the casing from the supporting lugs, the supporting lugs being swingable laterally to remove them from said locking studs and thereby permit those lugs to be moved lengthwise to locate others of said notches in position to be swung back to receive the locking studs, whereby the bottom of the casing can be supported at different levels in a mold.

8. In combination, an ingot mold, a hot top comprising a metal casing, supporting 'lugs integral with the casing projecting outwardly from the side of the casing and having lower surfaces above the casing bottom resting on top of the ingot mold and supporting the casing thereon with its bottom down in the mold, and centering lugs integral with the supporting lugs and extending down- Wardly therefrom limiting the lateral movement of the casing in the mold, the centering lugs having mold contacting surfaces for engagement with the inside of the mold below its upper edge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,804,206 5/ 1931 Charman 249201 1,804,204 5/ 1931 Charman 249201 3,216,688 11/1965 Daley 249201 1,913,847 6/1933 Messler 249-197 1,818,477 8/1931 Haws 249201 2,433,175 12/1947 Urmetz 249201 2,465,977 3/1949 Marburg 249197 2,462,260 2/ 1949 Garms 249202 3,239,187 3/1966 Daley 249202 1,137,144 4/1915 Kenney 249-106 1,672,663 6/ 1928 Turner 249202 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,207,179 8/1959 France 249202 501,988 5/1954 Canada 249201 J. SPENCER OVERHOLSER, Primary Examiner. WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Examiner. R. V. RISING, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HOT TOP COMPRISING A METAL CASING OPEN AT TOP AND BOTTOM, A REFRACTORY BOTTOM RING BENEATH THE CASING PROJECTING LATERALLY OUTWARD THEREFROM, CENTERING LUGS NEAR THE LOWER END OF THE CASING BUT ABOVE SAID RING AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM THE SIDES OF THE CASING FROM SPACED POSITIONS ON THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF THE LOWER END OF THE CASING FOR INSERTION IN AN INGOT MOLD WITH THE CASING AND THE RING, AND MEANS PROJECTING LATERALLY OUTWARD FROM THE CASING FARTHER THAN SAID CENTERING LUGS FOR SUPPORTING IT ON AN INGOT MOLD WITH SAID RING AND LUGS DOWN IN THE MOLD, SAID LUGS HAVING CONTACTING SURFACES BELOW SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR ENGAGING WITH THE INSIDE OF A MOLD BELOW ITS UPPER EDGE TO SUBSTANTIALLY AVOID LATERAL SHIFTING OF THE CASING, AND THE BOTTOM RING PROJECTING LATERALLY SLIGHTLY BEYOND SAID CONTACTING SURFACES OF THE LUGS AND HAVING A PERIPHERAL MOLD-ENGAGING SURFACE. 